Beer fest a boost for local charities

JEFF FRANK - Staff Writer

Things got a little crowded at the Stone Brewing Co.'s eighth
anniversary celebration and invitational beer festival last year.
So much so, that Saturday's ninth anniversary party will be a
double-header.

That should be good news for the quartet of charities to which
Stone CEO Greg Koch plans to donate the proceeds from the
two-session celebration.

Stone's brews, along with beers from 25 hand-picked guest
breweries, will be available for sampling during sessions from 11
a.m. to 2 p.m. and 2:45 to 5:45 p.m. at the company's new site in
the Escondido Research and Technology Park. Food vendors include
150 Grand, George's at the Cove, Pizza Port and the Adams Avenue
Grill.

Each session is limited to 3,000 ticket-holders. Koch hopes to
raise $100,000.

"It's a celebration of great beer, our own anniversary and
raising funds for important local charities," said Koch. "We give
people a great time and an unparalleled selection of beer. I'm not
surprised that so many want to come."

Benefiting will be the Boys & Girls Club of San Marcos,
Palomar Family YMCA, Surfrider Foundation and Fight ALD
(Adrenoleukodystrophy).

Tickets are $20 for 10 beer tastings and must be bought in
advance at the Stone Web site, www.stonebrew.com.

Initial tee time:
A trio of former National FootballLeague players are scheduled to be among the golfers teeing offFriday at the North County Health Services inaugural golftournament. Willie Buchanon, Pete Shaw and Andre Reed are among the110 golfers signed up for the 1 p.m. tourney at the Lake San MarcosCountry Club. More golfers are sought for the event, which featuresa variety of hole-in-one prizes ranging to $10,000. A dinner,silent and live auctions will follow. Money raised will helpprovide services for some of the 28,000 youngsters treated atagency's nine clinics. "We're one of the best-kept secrets in NorthCounty," said Victor Botello, director of development, who hopes toraise $20,000. "This is a good way to let people know we're here."Call (760) 736-6710.

A call to teens:
High-school age students in Escondidolooking to get involved in community service are invited to stop bytonight's orientation for the Helping Hands Teen Volunteer Club.More than 150 teens took part in a variety of service events lastyear. The club, a program of the Escondido Education Compact, meetstwice a month in addition to the various projects. Milkshakes, rootbeet floats and candy will be served at the '50s-themed mixer at6:30 p.m. today at the East Valley Community Center. Call EmilyHolley, (760) 839-4262.